Médoc and Graves, 2000

2000 was a great Bordeaux vintage across all appellations, with a glut of opulent blockbuster wines with high tannin and impressive structure. There was wonderful consistency right across the board, and many experts consider it to be amongst the greatest ever Bordeaux vintages.

It was all thanks to a high-pressure system that hung over Bordeaux from the end of July to mid-October, with warm temperatures and just one heavy splurge of rain towards the end of September. French wine producers often say that June makes the quantity of grapes, August the style, and September the quality – and this was certainly true in 2000 – as skins thickened in August (for tannin and richness) and September ripened the grapes to the optimal degree.

The rub, of course, comes with the pricing, and the quality of the vintage together with the hype of it being the Millennium meant record-breaking prices for the leading châteaux which have sadly put them out of reach of many wine drinkers. However, on the bright side, there are many bargains from ‘lesser’ appellations that give consumers the chance to taste a great vintage, leaving the likes of Latour and Lafite to wealthy collectors and investors.

As for the whites, there were some very good Graves with exceptional purity, and balance of acidity and ripeness, although generally it was an average year, while conditions in Sauternes were not conducive to noble rot and declassified much of their produce as basic Sauternes.

The wines

The Médoc and the Graves stole the show in 2000 with their best vintage since 1990. Harvesting took place in perfect conditions over three weeks in late September and early October, and only a few producers picked too early or too late. The best wines were richly textured, concentrated, fat and well structured with lusciously sweet fruit.

Cru Bourgeois (petit Châteaux from the Médoc) also experienced the same excellent conditions and offer the chance to taste some great value Bordeaux from this great vintage.

Médoc and Graves, 2000

2000 was a great Bordeaux vintage across all appellations, with a glut of opulent blockbuster wines with high tannin and impressive structure. There was wonderful consistency right across the board, and many experts consider it to be amongst the greatest ever Bordeaux vintages.

It was all thanks to a high-pressure system that hung over Bordeaux from the end of July to mid-October, with warm temperatures and just one heavy splurge of rain towards the end of September. French wine producers often say that June makes the quantity of grapes, August the style, and September the quality – and this was certainly true in 2000 – as skins thickened in August (for tannin and richness) and September ripened the grapes to the optimal degree.

The rub, of course, comes with the pricing, and the quality of the vintage together with the hype of it being the Millennium meant record-breaking prices for the leading châteaux which have sadly put them out of reach of many wine drinkers. However, on the bright side, there are many bargains from ‘lesser’ appellations that give consumers the chance to taste a great vintage, leaving the likes of Latour and Lafite to wealthy collectors and investors.

As for the whites, there were some very good Graves with exceptional purity, and balance of acidity and ripeness, although generally it was an average year, while conditions in Sauternes were not conducive to noble rot and declassified much of their produce as basic Sauternes.

The wines

The Médoc and the Graves stole the show in 2000 with their best vintage since 1990. Harvesting took place in perfect conditions over three weeks in late September and early October, and only a few producers picked too early or too late. The best wines were richly textured, concentrated, fat and well structured with lusciously sweet fruit.

Cru Bourgeois (petit Châteaux from the Médoc) also experienced the same excellent conditions and offer the chance to taste some great value Bordeaux from this great vintage.

“Broad, lush and sweet, with a pristine quality to the perfumed flavors of red berries, black cherry and spices. Harmonious acidity gives the wine shape and balance and a very clean, fresh mouthfeel." Ian d'Agata

“This is super for a second wine. Fantastic aromas of chocolate, berry and coffee. Yet very classy and subtle. Full-bodied, with a reserved rich and caressing texture. Loads of ripe and wonderful fruit in this." Wine Spectator

"What we like about the business is that 'fine' doesn't just mean famous. The first growths and their ilk are here, but in company with some excellent, less well-known, sometimes very limited production wines and often at what seem very reasonable prices."

The Wine Gang, thewinegang.com

"The range is excellent and I don’t just mean that they go right to the very top. There’s something for everyone, whether you want mature first-growth Bordeaux or a little known gem from an estate that’s been in the same family for generations and which you’d be hard-pushed to find anywhere else other than at the cellar door. I’m always finding things I want to try on Cadman’s list."